LAUSR

The removal of $$\hbox {H}_{2}\hbox {S}$$H2S from copper smelting contaminated acid using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as absorbent was investigated in a RPB reactor. The influences of operating parameters were assessed on the removal efficiency of $$\hbox {H}_{2}\hbox {S}$$H2S (E) and overall volumetric gas side mass transfer coefficient ($$K_{\mathrm{G}}a$$KGa). The results illustrate that E and $$K_{\mathrm{G}}a$$KGa increased with increase in high gravity factor, flow rate and concentration of sodium hydroxide while decreased with increase in mass concentration of $$\hbox {H}_{2}\hbox {S}$$H2S in feed gas. With increase in $$\hbox {H}_{2}\hbox {S}$$H2S gas flow rate, E was found to decrease while $$K_{\mathrm{G}}a$$KGa was found to increase. The increase in the temperature of absorption did not show any significant effect on E and $$K_{\mathrm{G}}a$$KGa. The $$K_{\mathrm{G}}a$$KGa of the rotating packed bed reactor was about 30 times higher than the conventional packed bed at similar gas liquid throughputs. The superior performance of RBP certainly demands further investigation, process development, scale-up for economical commercial adoption.